77th Regional Readiness Command

77th Regional
Readiness Command

Casing of the
Colors Ceremony

September 7, 2008
Brookhaven National Laboratory

The 77th Regional Readiness Command patch depicts a gold
likeness of the Statue of Liberty on a blue background. This patch,
originally worn by members of the 77th Infantry Division in both world
wars, was chosen to represent the 77th because its personnel came almost
entirely from New York City. It readily identifies the wearer as coming
from a New York based unit.

It all began for the 77th Division at Camp Upton at
Yaphank NY in 1917. They were called the Metropolitan Division as
many of the members came from NYC. It was decided that on September
15th, 2008 the 77th Regional Readiness Command would be deactivated.
It was decided that the most fitting place to retire the regimental
flag would be where it all started, Camp Upton, now the Brookhaven
National Laboratory. The pictures on this page were taken during the
ceremony on September 7, 2008.

CASING OF THE COLORS
CEREMONY
77th REGIONAL READINESS COMMAND

Every command, brigade
or regiment in the Army has a distinctive flag assigned to that
command which normally depicts some unique aspect of that command.
This flag is known as the “Colors.” This tradition originated so
that soldiers would recognize the flag or “Colors” of each of their
regiments so they could follow it into battle. In the case of the
77th Regional Readiness Command, the flag depicts the Statue of
Liberty thereby being universally recognized as a New York-based
command.

The “colors” are in
the forefront of each unit at military ceremonies and have a place
of honor as part of the official military Color Guard. It is the
sacred honor of the Command Sergeant Major of the command to protect
the colors from harm or disrespect.

When a unit is
deactivated and consigned to history, a “Casing of the Colors”
ceremony is performed. At this solemn and formal ceremony the
history of the command is read. In front of the formation the
Command Sergeant Major removes the “Colors” from the color bearer’s
sling. Upon the reading of the official retirement order, the
Command Sergeant Major then presents the “Colors” to the Commander
and steps backward. The “Colors” are grasped by the Commander and
the Command Sergeant Major. The Commander rotates and lowers the
“Colors,” allowing the Command Sergeant Major to furl or “Case the
Colors” in a protective sheath.

At this time the
cased “Colors” are returned to the color bearer who then marches off
the field signaling the formal end of that command. The “Colors” are
then retired to the Center of Military History in Washington, DC.

HISTORY OF THE 77TH REGIONAL
READINESS COMMAND

Members of the 77th Regional Readiness Command prepare for the
casing (retirement) of the regimental flag

The fame of the 77th, the
“Statue of Liberty” Division, began during World War I and continued
in the Pacific during World War II.

The 77th Division, National
Army, was organized at Camp Upton, Yaphank, N.Y. on August 25, 1917. It was called
the “Metropolitan Division” because its personnel came almost
entirely from New York City.

On April 30, 1918 the 77th
went ashore in France - they
were the first Army division to reach France. The 77th attained its
greatest fame in the Meuse­Argonne Offensive.

During this campaign,
Soldiers of the “Lost Battalion,” which consisted of elements of the
306th, 3 07th and 308th Infantry Battalions, made their historic
stand. The division fought in four campaigns-Baccarat, Oise Aisne,
Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne. At the end of the campaign, the
division counted 2,375 men killed or reported missing and 730
wounded. The 77th was deactivated in May 1919 and reactivated for
World War II in the spring of 1942.

The 77th trained for more
than a year before being deployed to liberate the islands of the
South Pacific. Among the 239 Soldiers who died was one civilian,
famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle. After the Japanese surrender in
August 1945, the division was assigned to the occupation of
Hakodate, Hokkaido. On March 15, 1946, the Liberty Division was
deactivated in Japan. The 77th never fought in a losing campaign.

During the postwar period,
from 1947 to 1965, the 77th Infantry Division was one of six combat
divisions in the Army Reserve. The 77th Army Reserve Com­mand (ARCOM)
was formed in December 1967 as a part of the reorganization of the
command structure of the Army Reserve.

The 77th ARCOM reorganized
into the 77th Regional Support Command on October 1, 1995. The term
“regional support” represented the command’s mission in peacetime to
support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in case of
natural or man-made disasters.

September 11, 2001 was a
turning point in history for the nation and the 77th when terrorists
attacked the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, targeting and
purposely killing thousands of United States citizens. The attack of
the World Trade Center resulted in the immediate response of
hundreds of 77th Reserve Soldiers.

Over 5,200 Soldiers have
been mobilized since 9/11 for Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom. They have served throughout the United States, overseas in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Kosovo and in the Middle East.

On July 16, 2003, the
command again restructured and was renamed the 77th Regional
Readiness Command. It is headquartered in Bayside, New York at
historic Fort Totten, where the Reserve Command has been since 1968.

Due to the Army
Transformation program the 77th Regional Readiness Command is
scheduled to discontinue in September 2008.

Author of Finding the Lost Battalion, Robert Laplander.

Members of the Veteran Corp of Artillery ready for their 21 gun
salute

The Veteran Corps of
Artillery
State of New York

21 GUN SALUTE

The Veteran Corps of Artillery,
State of New York, was established in 1790, has been in existence for
over two hundred years. The Corps consists of members that preserve and
reenact the traditions of the United States Artillery. They are one of
nine historic military organizations liable for duty under orders of the
President in time of war. Today the VCA serves as Honor Guard for the
Governor of the State of New York.

The
VCA will fire a 21-gun salute in honor of all the
men and women who have ever served
in the 77th. The 21 -gun salute is a ceremonial military honor performed
when 21 rounds are fired from a battery of artillery pieces. The 21-gun
salute is used for the President of the United States as well as
visiting foreign Heads of State.

Each round in a gun salute is fired one at a time. The number of cannon
used in a battery depends upon the intervals between each round. For
example, a 3-gun battery has 2 of its guns firing each at 5 second
intervals between rounds, with 1 gun ready in case of a misfire.

THE
CANNONS FIRING AT TODAY’S CEREMONY ARE FIRING BLANK ROUNDS. NO LIVE
AMMUNITION WILL BE USED.

THE
CANNONS MAKE A LARGE NOISE WHEN FIRING. PLEASE PREPARE CHILDREN AND THE
ELDERLY PRIOR TO THIS PORTION OF THE CEREMONY.